Letters: U-T Persons of the Year and Benghazi

In response to “They died defending us all” (Editorial, Jan. 1): Once again the U-T has shown its biased political nature in choosing [Glen] Doherty and [Tyrone] Woods as the sole recipients of the “U-T Persons of the Year.” While these two men are truly deserving of the title, so are numerous other men and women from this area who lost their lives “defending us all.”

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The reason for the U-T editorial’s choice is simple: it gave the Editorial Board another forum to vent its Republican ire against the current administration.

As a San Diegan, if I was the parent of one who lost their life while defending this country, this “award” would be demeaning to me and my loved one. Since I am not such a parent, it is just another political venting by the U-T [Editorial Board]. – Winston F. Reed, San Diego

Your choice for persons of the year is superb! There are two more questions to ask:

If Ty Woods was tagging the enemy, thus giving away his position, he must have been told that “assets” were in the area. Who told him?

The president’s daily schedule is a matter of public record. Why do we still don’t know where he was for those 7½ hours? If he was in the Situation Room, a la Bin Laden and Sandy, what did he not do? If he wasn’t, why not?

In response to “They died defending us all”: Thank you for this column and for your selections of Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods as U-T Persons of the Year. As Americans we must not let this disaster and the cover-up that followed be swept under the rug. If the truth would have come out (at least as much as we have uncovered), we probably would be dealing with a president who understood economics and was not committed to driving our country into bankruptcy. We must keep the pressure on and get to the facts about this stain on our foreign policy and the history of this great nation. Our policy failures can only encourage our terrorist enemies. By the way, how many have we captured and interrogated so far? – Richard Taylor, Poway

In response to “Benghazi’s still-unanswered questions” (Editorial, Jan. 1): Media continue to ask 1) Why was security not sufficient in Benghazi? 2) Who directed Susan Rice on talking points? 3) Where is the paper trail on “national security”? I have heard Mr. Obama several times say he instructed his personnel at all cost to protect our people in Benghazi the night of the terrorist attack. What has not been asked is: Where is the executive order as required by law signed by the commander in chief ordering our military to provide protection for former SEALs Doherty and Woods, who were seen in real time trapped on the rooftops pointing out the enemy positions, as they were trained to do?

If he did watch them die on the rooftops without ordering military protection, he should be impeached. If he didn’t watch the video in real time, where was he? Did he go to bed since he had fundraisers the next day? – Joann Austin, Rancho Santa Fe

Your pieces [Jan. 1] regarding Benghazi were unwarranted and demean the legacy of our heroes there and around the world. Our soldiers and special operatives know they are putting their lives on the line. This was not a “clear and present danger” type [of] situation. Remember Senator McCain was hollering for us to commit to Libya? But, do you think “weapons of mass destruction” was less of a killer than Benghazi? What’s your REAL agenda? – John H. Borja, Nestor

It must be nice to work for the Obama administration. Four Americans killed and no one is responsible! – Chuck Anderson, San Diego